PRESS RELEASE
MILAN, Italy — 5 March 2026 — A drug prevention initiative in Italy has distributed over one million informational booklets in the past month. Approximately 500 volunteers are actively engaging communities to help young people and families understand the risks of drug use.
Titled La Verità sulla Droga (“The Truth About Drugs”), this campaign is part of the educational efforts by the Foundation for a Drug-Free World, an international program supported by members of the Church of Scientology and its affiliated networks. The European Office of the Church of Scientology supports the campaign’s current phase in Italy to enhance public education on a large scale.
Organizers view the campaign as a response to the social and public health challenges affecting younger generations. The approach centers on providing factual and accessible educational materials so young people understand drug effects before facing peer pressure.
“The fight against drugs is a great challenge of our time,” said Simonetta Sanmartin, the Italian coordinator. “We mobilized many volunteers to broadly distribute The Truth About Drugs across Italy, with over one million booklets provided in the last month.”
The campaign involves more than street distribution. Organizers report over 100 athletes from the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics joining the Foundation’s Honour Roll and more than 5,000 local merchants distributing materials in their businesses.
The Foundation is renowned for producing educational materials explaining the impact of substance abuse in clear language. In Italy, the campaign uses resources beyond booklets, including 14 informational booklets, 16 public service announcements, a 100-minute documentary, and a teacher’s guide for classroom settings.
Organizers aim to support prevention through fact-based education. They note an increasing proportion of young people complete their programs and choose not to use drugs, highlighting the value of early awareness.
Within the broader Scientology framework, drug education is part of efforts to enhance community responsibility and public awareness. The Church of Scientology supports various humanitarian campaigns, including Drug-Free World.
Scientology’s involvement extends beyond endorsement. Churches and members provide the Foundation’s materials free, supporting mass distribution and logistical efforts in Italy.
This campaign fits within Scientology-supported initiatives aimed at addressing societal issues preemptively. Organizers emphasize the importance of this prevention model amid continuing drug abuse challenges.
Ivan Arjona, Church of Scientology representative to the European Union, states the initiative reflects a broader European principle of shared responsibility. “Across Europe, prevention succeeds when grounded in truthful information and community participation,” Arjona said. “This program shows families, volunteers, and civil society working to protect young people and uphold values central to European life.”
The campaign continues across Italy, aiming to sustain recent outreach momentum and expand educational reach to more schools, businesses, and communities.
Materials are available online through the Italian project website, supporting prevention efforts.
The Church of Scientology operates across Europe with more than 140 churches and groups in at least 27 nations, inspired by founder L. Ron Hubbard. Recognitions of the Church continue to grow under national and international religious freedom provisions.
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